Ross Hoek Motorsports: Crandon World Championship Weekend Race Report

Holland, Mich. (September 12, 2016) – The Ross Hoek Motorsports, Automatic Transmission Design PRO-4 ended the 2016 TORC Series presented by AMSOIL with a “never quit” attitude as the team ran very competitive laps at the Crandon Off-Road World Championships. Unfortunately the overall results really didn’t represent the effort and pace the #10 RHM ATD PRO-4 ran during the largest short-course off-road racing event of the year.

The team had a rough start to Thursday’s practice session as a seal failure cut short the scheduled full day of practice for Ross Hoek. The unit was replaced and the truck was prepped for Friday’s parade and Saturday’s final round of the 2016 TORC season. Continue reading Ross Hoek Motorsports: Crandon World Championship Weekend Race Report →

Ross Hoek Motorsports: TORC Bark River Report

Holland, Mich. (August 9, 2016) – Ross Hoek continues to perform well as the TORC Series presented by AMSOIL heads into homestretch of the 2016 season. After committing to run the entire season in his Greaves-built PRO-4×4, the Michigan native impresses the competition with his privately funded team. The TORC “Showdown in the UP” event saw the Auto Trans Design #21 PRO-4×4 challenge the top drivers in the class. Continue reading Ross Hoek Motorsports: TORC Bark River Report →

Steady Improvement as Ross Hoek Heads to Crandon

Holland, Mich. (June 21, 2016) – Ross Hoek looks to the 2016 TORC Series presented by AMSOIL schedule as a developmental year for the PRO-4 race team. The team plans use the 2016 season to get the team to the “next level” for a run at the 2017 championship. The first two weekends of the current season saw the #10 Automatic Transmission Design PRO-4 make considerable strides on and off the track and is well on the way to reaching their goal.

Memorial Day Weekend in Fort Worth, Texas, the #10 ATD hot rod finished fourth in the opening round of the season only to lose the front drive in round two which relegated the team to finish well off the pace.

The second weekend of June had Ross Hoek Motorsports head to Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. Opening night was a horrible struggle for Ross as rain cancelled Thursday practice and with only one 3-lap test session he missed the setup making the truck difficult to drive during Friday’s race. The second night of the program saw Hoek battle totally different track conditions and with a proper setup, the team, truck, and driver had a solid night of racing finishing fourth.

“We plan to compete in every round this year, but it takes good partners, a solid team, a well prepared race truck, and a competent driver,” remarked Ross Hoek. “At times it we’re right there and other times we realize there are areas that we need to improve upon. We’re searching out the right partnerships to make an effective marketing platform in TORC’s premier class. While I explore marketing opportunities, the team has to show steady improvement on and off the track. I’m confident we will achieve our goals this year as well as into 2017 and beyond.”

The next race for Ross Hoek Motorsports is the “Big House Brawl” on June 25-26 in Crandon, Wisconsin. The team always looks forward to the time at Crandon, as Hoek has been very successful throughout his career at the 1.7-mile off-road super speedway.

New Schedule and Management Announced for 2016 TORC:
The Off-Road Championship
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (November 4, 2015)- TORC: The Off-Road Championship presented by AMSOIL is announcing its 2016 season schedule featuring PRO racing at many of the country’s most popular tracks such as Crandon International Off-Road Raceway and also includes a new track location outside of Minneapolis, MN. Notably, Salt Lake City, UT, based action sports event marketing company, Mountain Sports International (MSI), is in final negotiations to acquire ownership of the series. Established in 1997, MSI has owned and operated action sports events in a variety of sports categories and brings a long history of experience to TORC. Continue reading Ross Hoek Motorsports–New Schedule and Management Announced for 2016 TORC: The Off-Road Championship →

Ross Hoek Motorsports: TORC Crandon I Race Report

Holland, Mich. (July 8, 2015) -Ross Hoek came to Crandon looking to improve on the speed and pace of its PRO-4 race truck. The team had fought some gremlins early in the team’s 2015 race program, but the performance at “The Big House” has put Ross Hoek Motorsports back in contention for a podium finish. Continue reading Ross Hoek Motorsports: TORC Crandon I Race Report →

Ross Hoek Motorsports Crandon Season Finale Race Report
Looks Back on Sophomore Season in PRO-4×4

Holland, Mich. (September 4, 2014) – The final weekend of racing for Ross Hoek Motorsports at “The Big House” in Crandon, Wisconsin capped a constructive and solid race season for the sophomore PRO-4×4 racer. Despite not taking the checkered flag during the Labor Day weekend event, the #10 Nitto Tire/TR Beadlock/Shop-Vac PRO-4×4 continually improved its performance on the track and finished on the podium twice during the twelve round race season. With that in mind the future continues to look bright for Ross Hoek.

The final two rounds of racing actually became one round of racing, as torrential rains hit the Wisconsin Northwoods Friday night and Saturday morning. By the time the Sportsman racers took to the track for the first time it was mid-afternoon and as the PRO classes were about to race, the sun had set causing the cancellation of Round 13.

The next morning TORC officials declared Round 14 to be a double points race in an effort to make up for the cancellation of the previous day of competition.

The early Sunday afternoon eight lap season finale saw the #10 Nitto Tire/TR Beadlock/ Shop-Vac PRO-4×4 get a great holeshot exiting Potawatomi Turn One in third place. Early into the run, Hoek had contact from a couple of his competitors which damaged the truck’s steering system. Then just past the halfway point of the race the truck became uncontrollable and Hoek retired from the race.
Continue reading Ross Hoek Racing-Ross Hoek Motorsports Crandon Season Finale Race Report →

Ross Hoek Motorsports -TORC “The Battle at the Chip” Race Report

Holland, Mich. (August 11, 2014) – The seventy-fourth edition of the Sturgis Bike Rally was the backdrop for Rounds 11 and 12 of the TORC Series presented by AMSOIL. The race event, “The Battle at the Chip” would see Ross Hoek and his fellow racers showcase their talents in front of a whole new audience, and from the response everyone can’t wait to come back in 2015.
Continue reading Ross Hoek Motorsports–Ross Hoek Motorsports -TORC “The Battle at the Chip” Race Report →

Catch TORC Action From Bark River This Sunday
Irvine, Calif. – TORC: The Off-Road Championship Presented by AMSOIL is racing at the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Tuesday and Wednesday, but before that, NBC Sports is airing the TORC race from the recent Throwdown in the U.P., part 2 from Bark River, MI. The race airs Sunday on the NBC Sports Network at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

The off-road action at the Bark River (Mich.) International Raceway has long been considered some of the best in the sport and the racing from TORC’s second trip to the Upper Peninsula in 2014 will not disappoint. Heading into Rds. 9 and 10 of the schedule, Doug Mittag (PRO Light), CJ Greaves (PRO 2), and Johnny Greaves (PRO 4) were the class points leaders, but it’s safe to say no leads are safe until the championship trophies are hoisted after the final race at Crandon.

Two days after the NBC Sports broadcast, TORC is kicking off their inaugural race on a brand-new race track in Sturgis, SD at The Legendary Buffalo Chip during Bike Week. West Coast Choppers’ Jesse James is competing against some of the best off-road racers in the world in a Cooper Tires PRO 2WD truck.

All the racing on Tuesday and Wednesday is available via live, free streaming at TORCSeries.com. The racing both days are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. PDT/5 p.m. EDT.

Holland, Mich. (July 22, 2014) – The second visit to Bark River International Off-Road Raceway saw Ross Hoek battle his way to another podium finish with the #10 Nitto Tire/TR Beadlock/Shop-Vac PRO-4×4. Despite some adversity throughout the weekend, the Ross Hoek Motorsports team stayed focused and kept their driver on the track and running strong during both rounds of racing.

The 1.4 mile long natural terrain track had one change since their first visit in June as a tabletop jump replaced a double jump along the County Road straightaway. During the Friday evening practice session, Hoek adapted to the track change well and at the same time found a few issues with truck, most notably inconsistent brake pedal pressure.
Continue reading Ross Hoek Motorsports–Another Podium for Ross Hoek @ TORC Bark River Part 2 →

NBC Sports Brings All the TORC Action From Bark River, Crandon to Viewers This Weekend
Irvine, Calif. – With the 2014 TORC: The Off-Road Championship Presented by AMSOIL season at its halfway point, the NBC Sports Network, the official television home for TORC, is getting fans up to speed on the year so far with three hours of programing this weekend.

The action kicks off Saturday at 5 p.m. EST when NBC airs the Throwdown at the UP from Bark River (Mich.) International Raceway. Father’s Day weekend in Bark River is always a good time and the Monster camp represented by Johnny Greaves and CJ Greaves and the Traxxas team of Jeff Kincaid and Keegan Kincaid, a father-son tandem is a strong possibility.

The race at Bark River also saw Steve Barlow’s return to the front of the pack. After missing the race in Primm, Caterpillar stepped up to sponsor Barlow’s PRO 2 and saw immediate results. After strong runs at the Husqvarna Showdown in Charlotte, Barlow came on strong in a tough field.

Starting Sunday at 6:30 p.m. EST, viewers will be treated to TORC racing at The Big House in Crandon, Wis. The first hour focuses on the Battle at the Big House, where Johnny Greaves and Mark Jenkins battled for the lead throughout the race. It was also a race for the underdog as Nitto Tires driver, Ross Hoek, continued his quest his first-ever PRO 4 podium finish. In the PRO Light class, a field of 20+ trucks raced all out all weekend with everything left on the track, including sheet metal.

At 7:30, NBC Sports airs the Crandon Cup (Chairman’s Cup), an all-star-like race featuring both the PRO 2 and PRO 4 racers on the same track at the same time with all the drama and action one would expect from seeing some of the best off-road trucks in the world together.

Hoek Gets First PRO-4×4 Podium: Third Place – Round 8

Holland, MI (July 3, 2014) – The effort that Ross Hoek Motorsports has put forward competing in the premier division of short-course off-road racing is nothing short of herculean. The privateer PRO-4×4 racer entered his sophomore season with one goal in mind, finish on the podium. Last weekend at the most storied short-course venue in North America, Ross Hoek stood on the final step of the podium after finishing Round Eight in third place.

The race festivities didn’t begin until early Saturday morning as Friday morning rain cancelled all scheduled practice on the 1.7 mile long track known as “The Big House.” This left Hoek and his team guessing at the chassis set-up on the #10 Nitto Tire/TR Bead Locks/Shop-Vac PRO-4×4. Fortunately the land rush start can minimize the importance of qualifying as long as your truck leaves strong off the line.

Nitto Tire Toyota floundered on the Land Rush start and Ross struggled to get comfortable in the truck. Regardless the Lower Michigan native pressed on to complete all nine laps taking the checkered flag in fifth place.

Overnight the team, now with some good track feedback from the afternoon race, made several adjustments to the PRO-4×4. The next morning Hoek and his crew were confident that the race truck would be much more competitive.

Sunday, Round Eight
The changes with the truck did work as #10 PRO-4×4 was visibly running quicker. Ross Hoek was much more aggressive with his approach to the race. By the third lap Hoek was running fourth, keeping ahead of Mike Jenkins and within striking distance of the Round 7 winner Mark Jenkins. The great race pace continued after the mandatory caution as Ross Hoek moved up to third place on lap seven. The closing laps saw a great finish as Hoek took the checkered flag in third place just one second behind second place.

“Finally this day has come,” note Ross Hoek. “I have said many times that the driver has to catch up to the potential of this Greaves built race truck. Today I think I closed the gap. I have to thank Johnny Greaves for not only making me a great deal on this truck, but for all the help since we entered PRO-4. I also have to thank Ricky Johnson for all his coaching and advice on how drive a PRO-4, as well as how to race a PRO-4. Thanks goes out to my crew, as this is a continual learning experience and they have always stayed positive and have kept me on the track race after race. Of course I have to thank my wife Cathy for all her support through all of this as well.”

There was one more race on schedule, the $30,000 Forest County Potawatomi Community Cup. The event combines the PRO-4×4 and PRO-2WD race trucks for an all-out ten lap sprint. Ross Hoek entered the event for the first time in the PRO-4×4 Division and if nothing else, the time on the track would allow the STACK data logger to gather useful information that will keep the race truck competitive when the TORC series returns for the Labor Day Weekend World Championships.

The Cup is very exciting to watch and somewhat stressful for the driver. With that being said, Ross Hoek completed all ten laps to finish ninth overall.

Hoek Adds Shop-Vac to Program – Finishes Fifth Both Days at Charlotte

 
Holland, MI (April 29,2014) – The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway saw Ross Hoek continue to improve his PRO-4WD race program. In the days leading up to the race, the South West Michigan racer added Shop-Vac as a new marketing partner as well as quickened the pace of the race truck in the sport’s premier classification. The Ross Hoek Motorsports team has now reached two of its three goals for the 2014 TORC season.
 
The .70 mile long short course track that was built within the banked clay oval at The Dirt Track was a challenge for most of the PRO-4WD competitors as the red clay had very different characteristics during the sunny afternoon practice sessions as compared to the evening feature races. As expected, the Nitto Tires on the #10 PRO-4WD truck adapted well to both track conditions.
 
Saturday’s Round 3 eighteen lap race saw the Nitto Tires/Trail Ready Beadlocks/Shop-Vac PRO-4WD run very well to finish a respectable fifth place. The next morning the crew addressed a few issues with the truck and quickly prepped the silver #10 for the evening’s big race to be televised on NBC Sports Network.

The starting grid for Sunday’s Round 4 race had #10 Nitto Tires/Trail Ready Beadlocks/ Shop Vac PRO-4WD starting on the front row. When the green flag waved, Hoek started strong, running as high as third place and stayed clear of the typical mayhem that is associated with the second night of racing. Once again the silver #10 completed all eighteen laps to finish a very solid fifth place.
 
“We are definitely seeing improvement in our race program,” noted Ross Hoek. “The team has a better understanding on the chassis set-up and I’m getting through the corners better every time we hit the track. We have a three step plan for the team. Step one, consistently finish races; step two, be competitive; and step three, finish on the podium. Right now we have accomplished the first two steps and with continued hard work we can get to the podium yet this year.”
 
  

The start of the 2014 TORC Series presented by AMSOIL saw Ross Hoek Motorsports take his PRO-4×4 race program to the next level. The team welcomed Nitto Tire and TrailReady Beadlock Wheels as team partners as Ross Hoek nearly finished on the podium in the opening round of the season. The solid weekend performance definitely caught the attention of the fans and competitors of the short-course off-road racing world.

Ross Hoek Motorsports traveled across the country to the opening weekend of the TORC Series early enough to take advantage of the two day test session. The added track time allowed Hoek to familiarize himself with the updated Primm Valley layout, as well as give the team and tire engineers the opportunity to tune the chassis set-up of the #10 PRO-4×4 to the Nitto Grappler Project Tire/TrailReady Wheel combination.
 
The opening round at Primm Valley saw a great door to battle between the #10 Nitto Tire/TrailReady/Motive Gear/ATD Transmission/Allstar Performance PRO-4×4 and the #5 driven by Mark Kvamme. After trading the third place position a few times in the late in the race, Hoek finished fourth, just. .254 seconds behind the final spot on the podium.
Even with the close racing, the silver Nitto Tire PRO-4×4 had only the usual between race preparations. The team worked on changing a few chassis settings as the race surface changes its characteristics as the race weekend progresses.
 
The race weekend also saw multi-time PRO-4×4 champion Ricky Johnson coaching Ross Hoek on the differences between driving a 2WD (PRO-2) race truck and a 4WD (PRO-4×4 ) race truck. Johnson also acted as Hoek’s spotter on race days.
 
The starting order for Sunday’s Round 2 was determined by Saturday’s race results with the top four positions starting in reverse order. This put the Nitto Tire/TrailReady PRO-4×4 on the front row. Once again Hoek ran consistent lap times bringing home a sixth place finish.
 
“Our team is definitely making progress getting our lap times closer to the top drivers in our class,” noted Ross Hoek. “Getting Nitto Tire and Trailready on board is huge for the team. Nitto Tire is also a TORC series sponsor which helps Ross Hoek Motorsports with great track support. Look for our team to get quicker and quicker as the season progresses. Ultimately our goal for this season is to put our Nitto Tire/TrailReady/Motive Gear/ATD Transmission/Allstar Performance PRO-4×4 on the podium.”
 
Chris Corbett, Nitto Tire’s Light Truck & Motorsports brand manager adds, “We’re excited to partner with Ross and his team for the 2014 season. Their race program will further develop our Grappler Short Course tires.”

Ross Hoek Motorsports PRO-4×4 on Display @ Lane Automotive